The Valley has seen several thefts of catalytic converters from cars this week alone. Since this national trend started, companies have been offering a variety of protections for people who can't keep their cars parked in a garage.

Catalytic converters are designed to reduce emission toxicity in your car. The platinum inside can be worth hundreds of dollars. A couple of local car experts are offering their recommendations before you spend your money.

At the Harrisonburg Meineke, owner Stan Cockrell says welding the bolts down or buying clamps may not be the best investment.

"When you have a good, sharp saw, it's hard to defeat it with metal or additional hangers or attachments," says Cockrell.

He showed how, in just a matter of seconds, thieves could cut through a metal pipe, leaving you needing hundreds or even thousands of dollars worth of repairs.

Cockrell says some Meineke stores nation-wide are working with law enforcement to start creating ID numbers for catalytic converters. However, they say that system also relies on the people buying the stolen converters actually reportingthem.

So, he encourages people to invest in alarm systems but to research them carefully first.

"If you're doing it as a deterrent against theft, it has to be one that would activate due to vibration of the vehicle," says Cockrell.

He recommends contacting dealerships to get those alarms installed.

"That will probably be the easiest step and the first step," says Travis Armstrong, accessory manager at Harrisonburg's Steven Toyota.

Armstrong has been working with cars professionally for more than a decade. He says making sure the alarm is installed properly is key.

He explains, "They're not going off all the time for no reason, but they do go off when someone messes with your car."

Poorly installed alarms can sound so frequently that you start to ignore it. Both men say the best thing to do is contact a reputable source to have an installation done.

"[The employees] really know what they're doing, and how to set it up for each vehicle, because they're all different," says Armstrong.

Managers at Steven Toyota say alarm systems can cost about $200 to install. The price varies based on what features you get for your car.